Procedures for Handling Disciplinary Matters in Engineering Industry

Brakes are devices whose function it is to slow down and to stop the automobile. They are mandatory for the safe operation of vehicles. When a vehicle is in motion, it has kinetic energy or energy derived from this motion. In order for the vehicles to slow down, this energy must be decreased. This is accomplished by transforming it into another form. In the case of brakes, this form is heat. In short, brakes transform the kinetic energy of the vehicles into heat energy, thus slowing its speed and if enough is transferred, bringing it to a stop.

Brakes have been refined and improved ever since their invention. The increases in traveling speeds as well as the growing weights of cars have made this improvement essential. The faster a vehicle goes and the heavier it is, the harder it is to stop. An effective braking system is needed to accomplish this task.

Brakes operate by converting the kinetic energy (motion) of an automobile into heat energy. How effectively this is achieved depends on the type of braking system. There are two main types of brakes that have been used in cars. These are disc brakes and drum brakes.

Disc brakes operate in a similar fashion to that of a bicycle. It involves pushing a block against a spinning wheel. This contact causes friction, which changes kinetic energy into heat energy.
Drum brakes have their blocks located in the inside of a drum like the disc in disc brakes, the drum in drum brakes are attached to the wheels. When the brake pedal is pressed the curved brake shoes are pushed outward so that they make contract with the rotating drum.

Not only are their different types of brakes, but there are various systems that operate these brakes. These include mechanical, hydraulic, and power brake system.
The Indian auto component sector is expected to grow at a healthy clip of above 20% in the coming years on the back of a strong demand from both the domestic and international markets. This has already been evident from the industry’s performance over the last two years when it crossed 20% growth rates.

Domestically, the number of vehicles manufactured in India has risen dramatically to 8.5 million units in 2004-05 from 2.4 million units in 1993-94. In the past, the industry was severely hamstrung by its over dependence on the domestic automobile sector and its swings and cyclicality.

However, this has changed quite dramatically in the recent past and the future growth is pagged largely on exports. While on one hand this takes care of the oscillating fortunes of the Indian auto sector, on the other hand, it diversifies risk, which promotes stability and ensures better growth and margins for companies.

The automobile industry was also aided by some positive, proactive policy decisions by government. In 2002, the automobile policy opened the automobile sector to 100 percent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and also removed the minimum capital investment norms for new entrants. Besides, the abolition of licensing and removal of quantitative restrictions helped the industry restructure and absorb new technology.

The market for automotive components can be divided into three categories largely based on the identity of the buyer – the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM or the vehicle manufacturer), replacement (vehicle owners buying parts for maintenance and repair) and exports (Foreign Vehicle Manufacturers and International Tier-1 Suppliers).

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A Study on After Sales and Service in TVS

Customers are support following the purchase of a product or service. In some cases, After-sales service can be almost as important as the initial purchase. The Manufacturer, retailer, or service provider determines what is included in any Warranty (or guarantee) package. This will include the duration of the warranty ―Traditionally one year from the date of purchase, but increasingly two or more Years ―maintenance and/or replacement policy, items included/excluded, labor Costs and speed of response. In the case of a service provider, after-sales service might include additional training or help desk availability of equal importance and also the customer's perception of the degree of willingness with which a supplier deals with a question or complaint, speed of response, and action taken.

Problem Statement

This study develops and tests a conceptual framework relating after sales service in TVS two wheeler urban marketing activities. Specifically, the study tests the relationship between the customer and service provider in the company. This study also offerings the market competition towards relative product quality and market power in the urban distribution channel. Results generally support the brand loyalty of the product and originality of spare parts.The After sales service found to enhance consumer perception of product quality and quality of the service.

Customers support following the purchase of a product or service. In some cases, after-sales service can be almost as important as the initial purchase. The manufacturer, retailer, or service provider determines what is included in any warranty (or guarantee) package. This will include the duration of the warranty€"traditionally one year from the date of purchase, but increasingly two or more years ―maintenance and/or replacement policy, items included/excluded, labor costs, and speed of response.

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Brand Awareness of Mahindra & Mahindra Tractors

India being an agriculture dependent country, farm equipment’s such as tractors have played a very crucial and significant role due to which where we can find the consistency and efficiency in the economy.

In today’s competitive world, a firm has to attract the interest of the customers and satisfy by providing effective service to them consistently as per their taste and requirements. They have to understand and know customer needs and preferences.

Marketing occupies an important position in the organization with regard to business. Peter Ducker, points out that the purpose of marketing or business is “to create a customer”. Few decades back the seller was the king of the market, the simple reason for this was lack of competition.

Marketing is the human activity directed at satisfying human wants through the exchange of goods and service. Marketing management occupies the most important position in business management. Marketing management in a firm is critical as it deals with customers and their needs. The major task of marketing management is to adopt firm‘s resources to market opportunities

The essence of marketing concept is that the customer and not the product shall be the heart of the entire business system. It emphasizes on customer oriented marketing process, plans. Policies and programs, which are formulated to serve efficiently the customer demand.

―Marketing is so basic that it cannot be considered as a separate function. It is the whole business seen from the point view of its final results i.e., from the customer‘s point of view‖.

A consumer is the king and has the right to choose from a large variety of offering. He is the central point and all marketing activities revolve around him. Today market is a more consumer oriented in the sense all the business operations revolve around the customer satisfaction and service.

Thus, marketing is often dynamic, challenging and rewarding. It can also be frustrating and even disappointing but never dull. The topic “A study on the brand awareness of Mahindra & Mahindra Tractors” is chosen to study the Brand Awareness adopted in Sri Ganesh Agro Tractors, dealers for Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. This project deals with how Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. defines its consumer target and uses its marketing tools in the best way to attract and satisfy their needs and wants competitively and profitably. Here marketing functions are limited to the function of buying and selling, but they include all functions necessary to satisfy the customer such as financing, after sales services, etc.

Customer oriented marketing approach points out the primary task of business enterprise is to study needs, besides the value of potential customer on the basis of latest and accurate knowledge of marketing demand.

Marketing management usually represents all managerial efforts and functions to operate the marketing concept, not only in letters but also in the spirit. Marketing concept demands customer oriented marketing plans, programs and policies so that the merchants can assume perfect correlation between demand and supply.

Thus, marketing is a matching process by which a producer provides a marketing mix i.e., product, price, promotion and physical distribution that meet consumer‘s demand of a target market within the limits of society.

Finding out ―A study on the brand awareness of Mahindra & Mahindra Tractors‖ is the important statement of the problem in this project.

This will help the firm or company to improve their marketing strategies as well as servicing strategies adopted by them. It also helps them to know their current position in the market.

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A Comparative Study Of Interest Rates On Housing Loans

Few decades back, buying a home was not a very easy task as there were hardly any lenders available to loan the ever increasing astronomical lump sum of money. However, with time, the rising property prices and the burgeoning housing finance market in the country, made the phenomenon of the home loans easy and the dream of buying a home possible. Also, the HFC’s (Housing Finance Companies) and banks have come up with so many home loan plans that they have become an answer to every customer’s necessity. Apart from this, the changing equation of market has also provided customers with several reasons to opt for a home loan. Here are few reasons to why home loans have gradually became a necessity in the society.

The need for home loans arises not because property prices are heading upwards all the time but because home loans make great sense from a long-term savings perspective. Not only are home loans a handy tool for the common man to own a roof over his head but they also help save money in the long run.

With skyrocketing real estate prices, people are increasingly opting for housing loans to acquire their dream home. Interest rates are coming down all the time and the housing finance companies are literally falling over each other to lure the prospective home-seekers.

Like all other commercial banks PNB is also having home loans in their portfolio. Frequent changes in regulation made by central bank affect the banks to a larger extent because banks have to follow according to the directions given by the central bank which reduces the profit of the bank.

Now a days banks cannot charge their own management interest rates they are force to look the market and follow according to the RBI rules and regulations, this has unable them to balance both the income and expenses, for eg., now the fixed deposit interest rate is 10.5% and is housing loan interest rate is 8.5%, they have the bear the loss of -2% which the banks have to pay themselves. Middle class people cannot afford to the current interest rate, it is too expensive for them.

To broaden the customer base the vast middle income strata should be fully exploited who are very sentimental about house property in India Simplify the procedure, reduce service charges, and demand only the basic essential proof. Most banks are reluctant to advance loan to the service class e.g. lawyers, police officers etc.. This aspect must be exploited.

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A Study on Empirical Testing of Capital Asset Pricing Model

A portfolio is a bundle or a combination of individual assets or securities. The portfolio theory provides a normative approach to investors to make decisions to invest their wealth in assets or securities under risk.

It is based after the assumption that investors are risk-averse. This implies that investors hold well diversified portfolio instead of investing their entire wealth in a single or a few assets. One important conclusion of the portfolio theory is that if the investor of the portfolio theory is that if the investor holds a well-diversified portfolio of assets then their concerns should be the expected rate of return and risk of the portfolio, rather than individual assets and the contribution of individual asset to the portfolio risk. The second assumption of the portfolio theory is that the returns of assets are normally distributed. This means that the mean and variance analysis is the foundation of the portfolio decisions. Further, we can extend the portfolio theory to derive a framework for valuing risk assets. This framework is referred to as CAPM.

The CAPM is a model that provides a framework to determine the required rate of return on an asset and indicates the relationship between return and risk of the asset. The required rate of return specified by CAPM help in valuing an asset. Once can also compare the expected return and determine whether the asset is fairly valued. As we exemplifies the relationship between an asset’s required rate of return.

Risk is of many kinds, they can be classified as systematic or unsystematic risk. Systematic risk covers the risks of market, interest rate risk and purchasing power risk and unsystematic risk consist of business and financial risk. The systematic risk is therefore, effecting the total environment and is outside the control of one firm on individual. Unsystematic risk is inherent to the system. It may be due to bad financial planning or wrong management decisions. These risks are internal and can be avoided or controlled.

Risk is fundamental to the process of investment. Every investor should have an understanding of the various pitfalls of investment. For the convenience of the investors, analysts measure risks to able to combine securities and to reach that portfolio which suit’s the individual needs of an investor risk is measured through beta test.

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